Hi. I am new to this website, so here is a bit about me. As a child all I could think about was horses, I was horse mad and assumed that working with horses was all I would ever want to do. My sister was an actress at the time and I always thought acting was her thing. After working with horses for some years I started a family and changed a lot as a person along the way. As my family grew up I started exploring different interests and ended up joining my local amateur dramatics society. I've never looked back. From there I started doing a bit of extra work and loved learning about how programs are made. However despite no formal training I would love to break into acting. I make up for my lack of training with tons of life experience to tap into and a willingness to learn from every opportunity given to me.
Acting : Discovering acting later in life by Fiona Edgington
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Research and network. I enjoy filming myself doing scenes in the comfort of my home and then playing them back so I can see how I come across to the world, you may be surprised not only by what you find but also how much different you will perform after watching.
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Thank you. I will definitely try that. I appreciate any help or tips, if I could afford acting classes I'd have them but for now I'm just trying to get as much experience as possible.
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You can also find other actors in your area that are simply willing to meet and run scripts, give each other feedback and "direction" just to try scenarios you may not have thought of otherwise.
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If you want it, you will do it. I too started with absolutely no background (i was an adolescent psych counselor/therapist), and one day I just made up mind to add acting to my todo list. And pursued it. Really! I've done a ton of commercial/print/industrial/ and theater work with absolutely no training (just learned along the way). So I say if you really want to do it, then do it. Do not let anyone tell you 'you can't' :-)
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Welcome to the acting world, Fiona! =) I happen to be an avid horse lover too. I thought I'd have to give up horses to pursue acting and that was not an option, but Viggo Mortensen was my inspiration to finally follow my acting dreams...working with horses on set!? How perfect is that! =)
Hi Fiona, I really enjoyed reading this post. I am also new to Stage32 and discovering that I want to break into the acting business as well. I also don't have any experience but with some training and getting some background under my belt I will be just fine and so will you. :-)
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Contact me: (veteransradio@hotmail.com) as I am involved in a new tv western BIG SKY to begin filming in 2016. Maybe we can get you a part?
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Hi Fiona. Welcome to the site. This is a great resource, especially, I think for us late starters. :)
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Hi, welcome, great post. I'll be 63 later this year. Following a start in theater, a business career kept me busy. Then came retirement. Then Disney wanted some work done on Tomorrowland (great fun even though it all got cut). Now I'm doing several projects and just got accepted into a Masters in Film. So, just keep going towards whatever you wish
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Six year ago at the urging of an actor friend I started acting. Like many I started doing background, primarily to learn. Worked my way into scenes, did a few Indie short films (lead roles), moved to stage and have performed in a number of Off & Off/Off B'way productions. Also, luckily found a small theater community (6 people per group) where the teaching, actors and work is serious and highly professional; oh yes, very inexpensive. My advice: get on stage, in front of camera as much as possible, find a place to learn, and watch/listen. One last thing be descriminating about the projects. Good luck.
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Although I trained at Drama School in my 20's, I have taken almost 25 years off before returning to do something with my education. The roles available for someone of my age are way more interesting than those for leading men in their 20's!
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It's so great reading everyone's comments. I never expected such positive views and expected everyone to say I was wasting my time unless I took classes I can't afford. At the moment I'm auditioning for a role in my Amateur dramatics company for Ghost. I loved the film and would love to get the role of Molly but I have competition so we will see. But I'm not going to pass on any opportunity that I can find. I've gone for a couple of auditions recently and still doing my background work. If I can learn for free I will make sure I learn from each experience I get. I've learned from my sister how hard the industry can be, but I don't want to be old and grey with a lot of what ifs. So hear I go, a complete introvert putting myself out there and saying come on then, come judge me and see if I've got what it takes. Fear won't stop me.
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I used to play a lot of school theater and I never had the chance to do it professionally. But when I turned 50, and after a life as a President & CEO in the travel industry, I recalled the words of Alfred de Vigny: “A successful life is a childhood dream fulfilled in middle age". So I changed, contacted theater groups, auditioned for films and changed my life. Now, I’m an actor and producer! I’ve produced two features and we have three more coming up. Money doesn’t flow in as before but I’m happy! “To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself." (Soren Kierkegaard). Good luck to you Fiona!
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Okay, I'll say it: you're seriously cute. Combining that with the cojones to be a horsewoman gives you a leg up on 90% of the wannabes out there. Most of acting is allowing your personality show through in a high-personal-risk situation (of course, it helps to have a personality that makes people want you around). Experience is important. Invest in an agent and some acting lessons, too, to polish what you already have. I hope some day to have you in one of my productions.